John Graham, director of independent think-tank the Police Foundation, said the youth justice system needs to be reformed by introducing more continuity to legal proceedings involving young people.

Young offenders should be assigned a magistrate who monitors their rehabilitation and deals with any subsequent offences. Repeat offenders could benefit from seeing the same magistrate at each court visit, the Youth Court inquiry has heard

In addition, he said there should be the option to try young people aged 18 to 21 in youth courts, with the decision based mainly on the “emotional, cognitive, psychological and educational maturity” of the defendant. These recommendations were outlined in the Police Foundation and T2A’s report Policing young adults: A scoping study.

“That’s a much more sophisticated and tailored approach than one that just uses chronological age,” said John Graham.

Graham also called for the abolition of Crown Courts for anybody under the age of 18 regardless of the crime because of the “chaotic and complex lives” many young people face.